MOSCOW - Russian forces have regained control of three settlements in the Kursk region, the Defense Ministry said Sunday.

"As a result of decisive operations, the Sever (North) Group of Forces' units liberated Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa in Kursk region," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the Russian army continues the operation to defeat the Ukrainian armed forces on the territory of Kursk region.

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The three settlements are all north of the Ukraine-controlled Sudzha, an important town securing supply for its operation in Kursk.

Earlier in the day, the ministry said that it has regained control of the village of Lebedevka in Kursk, which "brings Russian military closer to Sudzha, with a little more than 10 km remaining," said TASS news agency, citing Russian security forces.

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On Saturday, Ukraine's General Staff said on Telegram that Ukrainian troops had repelled an attack by Russian forces via a gas pipeline on the outskirts of Sudzha, releasing footage of the engagement.

"At the moment, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked and destroyed. Enemy losses in the Sudzha area are very heavy," it said in the post.